IRIS Software Group announces 2012

Posted by IRIS on Thu, 26/07/2012 - 16:53  243

26 Jul 2012

We are delighted to announce that our Charity of the Year for financial year 2012-2013 will be Make-A-Wish Foundation®UK.

Headquartered in Camberley, Surrey, the charity has a very simple - yet challenging - objective: to grant magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions.

Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in the UK in 1986 and since then has granted over 7,700 wishes. IRIS CEO Phill Robinson comments, “IRIS is proud to be associated with Make-A-Wish and to helping the charity to achieve its target of raising over £6.8 million every year to continue granting life-enhancing wishes.”

Bringing the magic touch to children’s lives

The first £10,000 of employee-led fund-raising will be matched by the company and partnership should create valuable opportunities for IRIS employees to use some of their Giving Back days in volunteering for Make-A-Wish.

Jonathan Sandall, Head of Corporate and Trust Fundraising at Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, says, “We are delighted that IRIS, one of the UK’s largest private software specialists, has chosen Make-A-Wish as its charity partner for this year. We will work hard to support staff’s fundraising efforts across their four UK offices and will ensure that every penny raised will help make a world of difference to some very special young lives.” Incoming donations are used to fund a whole range of life-enhancing experiences, from£10 to fund lunch during a wish visit to London to £1,000 for family accommodation at the Disney Resort in Paris.

A rigorous selection process

Explaining the process that led to the choice of Make-A-Wish, IRIS CSR Officer Ros Campbell says, “From an employee survey in May, we identified three front-runners, from whom we ultimately selected Make-A-Wish. It was a tough decision, following a rigorous process of employee voting and presentations to the volunteers who form our charity council. This ensures that everyone is on board and committed to the cause.”

Last year, IRIS raised £85,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, its first official charity partner.